Vehicle-support.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

I M. N. DAVIS. VEHICLE SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE'QO, 1906.

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PATENTED APR. 23', 1907.

' M; N. DAVIS.

VEHICLE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20 1906 2 SHEETS-BEBE L S\ Swear Mali 2 \Zfigozlning means in full and dotted lines.

MARK N. DAVIS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

VEHICLE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed June 20,1906. Serial No. 322,649.

To (.tZZ lull/0712, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAR 1; N. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Supports, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle supports, and particularly to a jackor device for supporting automobiles, wagons, carriages and othervehicles, the object 01 the invention being to provide a device of thischaracter whereby the vehicle may be bodily supported and acked for theremoval of its wheels for convenient lubrication of the axle spindles,for convenience in making repairs and for other purposes, and wherebythe vehicle may also be bodily turned to dispose the different portionsthereof to better light or advantage in carrying out the foregoingoperations and in painting, washing or carlying out other likeoperations in building, repairing and cleaning vehicles.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is readilyadjustable to support vehicles of different sizes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanylng drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ackor support showing the same longitudinally extended. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof showing the different positions of the elevat- Fig. 3is an end elevation showing the device laterally extended. Fig. 4 isfragmentary longitudinal section showing the sliding connection betweenthe members of one of the rails thereof. 5 is a detail view showing oneof the racks and the associated pinion of the elevating mechanism. Fig.6 is a detail showing the journal bearing construction for the adjustingshafts. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the threaded adjusting means ofthe transverse adjusting shaft. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing thethreaded adjusting means of the longitudinal adjusting shaft.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the frame of thedevice which comprises a platform adapted to support the vehicle, and onwhich the vehicle may be run in any preferred manner. This platform ispreferably rectangular in form and of skeleton type, being composed ofside rails 2 and end rails 3 connected at the corners by suitable braccs4 and otherwise suitably bolted or connected together. The siae rails 2con stitute tracks or runways on which the wheels of the vehicle hearwhen the vehicle is in position on the platform. Both the side and endrails of the platform are of sectional construction, the parts ormembers thereof being slidably connected, so that the platform may beextended either longitudinally or laterally or in both directions tovary its size to receive and support vehicles of different lengths and.widths. The sliding connections may be of any preferred type, but in theconstruction shown one of the members of each rail is provided with atongue or guide plate 5 which slides in a grooved guide way 6 in theother member and is retained in position by keeper strips 7. The innerend of one of the members is V-shaped to fit within the correspondinglyV-reccssed end of the other member, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to forma lap joint insuring a firm connection when the members are closedtogether. The platform may be manufactured in practice of wood or metalor may be of a composite structure.

In order to adjust the platform longitudinally, a shaft 8 is providedwhich is journaled in a bearing 9 in one of the end rails and is heldfrom longitudinal movement by collars 10. This shaft is provided at itsouter end with a crank handle 11 and has its inner end threaded andarranged to move longitudi nally in a socket in a bar 12 extending fromthe other end rail and reinforced from the adj acent side rail by abrace 13, the said threaded end. of the shaft engaging a nut 14 fixedagainst rotation and longitudinal movement in the socket, whereby theadjustment of the shaft in one direction or the other willlongitudinally extend or contract the platform for supporting vehiclesof different lengths. Lateral adjustment of the platform is secured bvthe use of a transverse shaft 15 journaled iii a bearing similar to theaforesaid bearing 9 in one of the side rails and operating in a bearing16 fixed in the other side rail, the shaft and bearing having a screwthreaded engagement, as shown in Fig. 7. The shaft is provided with acrank handle 17 whereby it may be turned in one direction 01' the otherto vary the width of the platform for the recep tion of different widthsof vehicles.

At the corners of the platform are vertical tubular guides 18 whichextend through lat eral extensions 19 of the side rails and in which areslidably mounted jack posts 20. Each of these posts is provided with apin 21 movable in a slot 22 in the guide to hold it from turning thereinand is provided at its upper end with a notch or recess for thereception of the adjacent end of the vehicle axle. From the postprojects a hooked hanger 24 on which the axle may be supported in thoseconstructions where the axle is provided with a brace which prevents itfrom If debeing directly seated in the notch 23. sired, the usualstepped support may be provided upon each post in lieu of the seatnotch.

Arranged upon each side of the platform is a main operating lever 25pivoted at one end to one of the extensions 19 of the adjacent siderail, as indicated at 26, and longitudinally slotted at its oppositeend, as indicated at 27. The slot 27 receives a pin 28 on a rack bar 29arranged to slide vertically in a guide'way formed in a bracket 30secured to the platform at the end opposite that to which the mainoperating levers are pivoted. It will be seen and understood that a rackbar is provided for each lever 25, and these bars are adapted to beadjusted in unison by pinions 31 on a transverse operating shaft 32 journaled in bearings 33 on the brackets or members of the adjacent endrail, which shaft is provided with a crank portion 3 1 by which it maybe operated. Arranged below each main elevating or operating lever 25 isa pair of auxiliary operating levers 35, pivoted at 36 to the respectiveportions of the side rails, the inner ends of said levers being reducedtoprovide portions 37 extending downwardly at an oblique angle andpivotally and slidably engaging a stirrup or loop 38 carried by abracket 39 on the main operating lever, whereby said auxiliary leversare adapted to swing upon the up and down .movement of the main lever,the sliding connection of the angularly bent ends 37 permittingadjustment of the auxiliary levers to compensate for variations in thelength of the platform. One or both of the pinions 31 is slidablymounted on the shaft 32 to compensate for variations in the width of theplatform, the pinion having a rectangular bore to engage a correspondingportion 32 of the shaft, so that it will turn with the shaft and may yetfreely slide thereon. The outer ends or arms of the levers 35 beyondtheir pivotal connections are formed with recesses 39 to receive thelower ends of the posts 20.

By the construction described it will be apparent that when the levers25 are elevated the inner ends of the levers 35 will swing upwardtherewith, thus depressing the outer ends of said levers 35 and allowingthe posts 20 to drop to a lowered position by gravity, and that on thecontrary when the levers 25 are swung downwardly the inner ends ofthelevers 35 will be depressed, thus elevating the outer ends thereof,which will force the posts 20 upwardly to raise or jack the vehicle. Theup and down motion of the rack bars transfers corresponding motion tothe levers 25 through the pins 28, which are free to slide in the slots27 to allow the platform to be adjusted longitudinally with outinterference with the lever mechanism. The posts 20 may, of course, beforced downwardly by the action of the spring or connected directly withthe levers 35.

It willbe understood that the vehicle may be supported upon the platformto relieve the tires of wheels from the weight of the vehicle when notin use and for convenience in cle ansing, repairing or painting it, andmay be jacked up through the use of the elevating mechanism to enablethe wheels to be removed for repairs of various kinds or lubrication ofthe axle spindles. The platform is mounted upon caster wheels 40disposed at the corners thereof, and on which the device may be swungaround in all directions to bring the different portions of the vehicleinto a better lighted portion of the shop, barn or garage or to admit ofmore convenient access thereto.

In order to lock'the lever mechanism in adjusted position to hold thejack posts elevated and maintain the same in elevated position againstthe weight and pressure of the supported vehicle, L-shaped locking bolts41 are slidably mounted in ways at the corners of the platform. Thehorizontal arms of these bolts are movable outwardly to engage the mainoperating levers 25 to hold the same depressed, while the vertical armsof said posts project upwardly from the platform and form handles 42,whereby said bolts may be conveniently projected and retracted.

A handle of any preferred type, preferably detachably connected with theplatform, may be provided in practice for convenience in drawing,pushing or manipulating the support after the manner of a truck.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. Avehicle supporting device comprising a platform capable oflongitudinal and lateral adjustability, jacks at the corners of theplatform, means for simultaneously adjusting said jacks, and commonoperating means for said adjusting means.

2. A vehicle supporting device comprising a platform composed ofsections adjustably connected to allow the platform to be varied inlength and width, operating means for adusting the platform, verticallymovable jacks at the corners of the platform, and means for adjustingsaid jacks in unison, said means being adapted to permit of theadjustment of the platform without interference therewith.

3. A vehicle supporting device comprising IOC a laterally andlongitudinally adjustable platform, jacks on the platform, and means forsimultaneously adjusting the jacks, said means being adapted to permitof the adjustment of the platform Without interference therewith.

4. A vehicle supporting device comprising a longitudinally and laterallyadjustable platform, jacks at the corners of the platform, adjustinglevers on the sides of the platform for operating the jacks, andoperating mechanism at an end of the platform for actuating said levers,said levers and operating mechanism being adapted for adjustment of theplatform both longitudinally and laterally Without interferencetherewith.

5. A vehicle supporting device comprising a longitudinally and laterallyadjustable platform, adjusting means therefor, jacks at the corners ofthe platform, each having a main and an outwardly projecting auxiliarysupport to receive and hold a vehicle spindle, and means for adjustingthe jacks in unison, said means being adapted to permit of theadjustment of the platform.

6. Adevice of the character describedcomprising a platform composed ofsections adjustably connected to render the platform extensible as tolength and Width, means for adjusting the platform, vertically movablejacks at the corners of the platform, lever mechanism for simultaneouslyadjusting the jacks, said mechanism being adapted to permit of thelongitudinal and transverse adj ust ment of the platform Withoutinterference, and operating means for actuating the lever mechanism.

7. A vehicle supporting device comprising a platform, vertically movablejacks at the corners of the platform, main operating levers, auxiliarylevers for actuating the jacks, said levers being connected in pairs tothe main levers, and means .for operating the main levers.

S. A. vehicle supporting device comprising a platform, verticallymovable jacks at the corners of the platform, main operating levers,auxiliary operating levers controlling the jacks and pivoted to the mainoperating levers, racks operatively connected With the main operatinglevers for raising and lower ing the same, and means for actuating theracks.

9. A vehicle supporting device comprising a longitudinally and laterallyadjustable platform, vertically movable acks at the corners of theplatform, main operating levers, auxiliary operating levers forcontrolling the jacks, said auxiliary levers being pivoted to theplatform and pivotally connected with the main levers, racks operativelyengaging the main levers for raising and lowering the same, and anoperating shaft having pinions engaging the racks, the parts beingadjust ably connected in a suitable manner to allow a proper shiftingmovement of the described mechanism for actuating the jacks tocompensate for the adjustments of the platform.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signaturein presence of t we Witnesses.

MARK N. DAVIS. Witnesses JOHN R. Hoorim, C. A. NICHOLSON.

